Thursday, November 17, 2016

A Career in Robotics?

A >one-page guide giving advice for those interested in a career in robotics has been issued by Harmonic Drive UK. The guide details the different routes that people can take to work in the sector, routes that depart from traditional robot manufacturing. Despite the engineering skills shortage, there are still many jobs available in various areas of the robotics industry.

The guide tackles the myth that you need a specific engineering degree to have a career in robotics. It talks about four lesser-known sectors where robots are used, such as robotic rigs used in Hollywood camera equipment for their accuracy, or robots used in the medical sector to perform remote surgery.

“Whether it's the overhead cameras used to broadcast sporting events from exciting new angles, or the deep-sea remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) that help oil and gas engineers repair leaks, robots are now everywhere,” explained Graham Mackrell, managing director of Harmonic Drive UK. “The biggest challenge the engineering industry faces is attracting the most talented and passionate people into the sector.

“It's our job as employers to raise awareness about the non-traditional roles that robots operate in. No matter the sector, it is vital that the right gears are used in these exciting new robotic applications. Gears must be compact and lightweight, without sacrificing torque output particularly as we see the growth of collaborative robots in smart factories, where space is often at a premium.

"Another example is the medical sector where, apart from accuracy and repeatability, robots that contain zero-backlash gearing systems are making remote surgeries a reality. My advice to professionals in the engineering industry looking for alternative careers is to consider the many wider applications of robots."